CEO Statement: Horizon requests critical state admission prioritization for four regional hospitals

(HORIZON) – Today, Horizon Health Network submitted a formal request to the Department of Social Development (DSD) asking that our four regional hospitals be granted critical state admission prioritization status for the rapid placement of patients who no longer require acute care in long-term care facility. This would give those patients priority to all available community-based beds in long-term care facilities.

The Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, Saint John Regional Hospital, and Miramichi Regional Hospital are all experiencing chronic overcapacity due to high rates of Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients waiting for services under the jurisdiction of DSD. 

This is not a request we make lightly, however, despite the great effort by staff and physicians to care for all inpatients, the current situation across our hospital system is unsustainable.

There are currently more than 650 patients in Horizon hospitals who no longer require acute care but cannot be safely discharged because they are waiting placement in a community-based, long-term care facility such as a nursing home.

If enough long-term care beds were available in our communities today, we would be able to immediately discharge 360 of these patients from our hospitals.

This is the highest number of ALC patients our hospital system has ever seen. Roughly 40% of all our acute care beds are currently occupied by patients who have no medical reason to be in a hospital.

This level of pressure has a profound impact on our entire health care system. It means fewer beds for patients who need surgery. It causes emergency department wait times to grow longer. It forces care to be delivered in hallways, dining areas, lounges, and other makeshift spaces – conditions that are far from ideal for patients, families, and staff.

Our teams work with compassion and dedication every day to care for ALC patients, but a hospital is designed for acute care not long-term care. These individuals need to be in long-term care homes or appropriate community settings, where their basic needs can be fully met and where they can live with dignity.

Over the past week, we have engaged directly with our government partners, including the ministers of Health and Social Development, to push for urgent, collaborative action.

Requesting a critical state placement prioritization is a measure of last resort, but we are now at a point where no other option exists. We are hopeful the Department of Social Development will approve our request so we can begin the work of transitioning these patients to more appropriate care settings as quickly as possible.

Margaret Melanson, President and CEO, Horizon Health Network

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